How to build an outdoor storage cabinet?

[John Smith]

I know almost nothing about carpentry, but am a woodworker and have built plenty of cabinets.

I want to build a weatherproof storage cabinet under my deck for stuff I don't have room for in the house. Since it is under the deck, I presume it will be pretty protected from our harsh upstate NY weather. Would building it as I would an interior cabinet, only with painted pine and exterior plywood, be adeqate? The doors would not be completely weatherproof of course, but under the deck that ought to be adequate if I use an oversized top that slopes to the back.

Are there any obvious problems with this approach. If it is downright foolish, maybe you could refer me to some online plans for an outdoor storage cabinet. I am looking at about 5' wide, 3' deep and 5' high; but I am sure I can adapt any plans to my dimensions.

I can either hang it from the deck, or make it free standing. Any compelling reasons to do it one way or the other? Nobody will ever see it, so appearances do not matter much.

Thanks.

[Greg]

Side it with Hardie board or some other weather resistant material, caulk it up and put a couple coats of paint on it. The thing can be as weather tight as your house. I have a pump house made that way and it was dry inside after the Charley storm. (8 miles east of the eye)

[James Owens]

Watch for water.

- if dew, fog, and so on can find a home in it and it does not dry out from sun exposure, parts may eventually rot. Use cedar or pressure-treated wood. A good paint job will help, of course.

- If standing water freezes, joints may be forced apart. Also mosquitoes breed in standing water. Use caulking where it might collect.

- If the top slopes back, it could send water to your house foundation -- you don't want that.

- Where wood meets soil, it is particularly susceptible to water and insect damage. Suspend it, if the deck will take the weight, or build it on

4 x 4 pressure-treated sleepers, and ensure that air can flow under it.

"John Smith" ( [e-mail]) writes:

-- "For it is only of the new one grows tired. Of the old one never tires."

-- Kierkegaard, _Repetition_

James Owens, Ottawa, Canada

[Edwin Pawlowski]

How big do you want it? Those Rubbermaid boxes are not cheap but considering time, materials, and 100% weatherproof, it may do the job.

[SteveB]

Just a thought ................ I have a metal cabinet that I inherited. It looks like it is from the government. It looks like you could store a car engine inside on its shelves. Could you check with an army/navy surplus yard? Government auction?

You could probably get a cabinet that cost the taxpayers three million and change for about $100. Of course, you would have to paint it some other color than grey.

A quick easy solution.

Or not.

Steve